Anybody on clozapine?

Medications
1

What’s it like? Side effects? They’re switching me to that even though I’m stable on Paliperidone.

Dafuq

1 Like
2

Yes I have taken for a while

Still drooling at night, constipation but I solved that recently

3

Not totally effective but it makes me calm and sleep well

1 Like
4

When you’re on it and no longer in hospital you have to Take it every day as prescribed.

If you stop taking it for a while and then restart it, that can kill you.

Never make your own changes to your clozapine routine. You have to involve your doctor.

Also drinking alcohol with clozapine is very dangerous.

2 Likes
5

Well they forced me to take it. I didn’t want it cos Paliperidone works. I guess I’ll have to endure nasty side effects. Hope I don’t get constipated. That’s ■■■■■■■ gross.

6

Is it only in pill form?

1 Like
7

I was recently put on it. Some constipation, I take stool softeners and laxatives. It quiets down the suicidal ideation a good bit and I sleep good on it. I’m on 300mg a day, 150mg twice a day. It works well for me…but that could also be the ECT working. I like when they put me to sleep for ECT…

8

I was on liquid clozapine for a while but the measurement plastic tube thing was rubbish and I was not getting the proper dose

9

What? Ive never heard of that. Really?

1 Like
10

Can restarting clozapine after stopping it lead to life threatening side effects

A.I. says:

Yes, restarting clozapine after a break—especially if it’s been more than two days—can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening side effects if not done properly.

:warning: Key risks include:

  • Cardiac arrest: There are documented cases where patients restarted clozapine at too high a dose and experienced cardiac arrest shortly after.
  • Orthostatic hypotension, bradycardia, and syncope: These cardiovascular effects are most likely during the initial titration period, especially with rapid dose escalation.
  • Neutropenia and agranulocytosis: These are well-known risks of clozapine and require strict blood monitoring protocols.

:stethoscope: Safe reinitiation protocol:

  • If clozapine has been stopped for two days or more, it must be restarted at 12.5 mg once or twice daily, even if the patient was previously stable on a much higher dose.
  • Slow titration is essential to minimize cardiovascular risks.
  • Weekly blood monitoring may be required for several weeks after restarting, depending on the duration of the interruption.

If you or someone you know is considering restarting clozapine, it’s critical to do so under close medical supervision.

3 Likes
11

@everhopeful - Oh wow. I wonder if thats true for all anti-psychotics.

1 Like
12

When I had hip surgery,they brought some psychiatrist who said that! I must be off cloz for one day and night.

I told her same things you wrote @everhopeful ,but they were persistent..

I had my meds in draw,and took half at night.That made me sleep.

After surgery I continued cloz but it’s blurred how much. Fckers

1 Like
13

Hi. I take 400 mg and my psych will likely up my dose soon again. It’s a slow process.

Works really well. I used to be on 2 or 3 ap’s at once but now just higher dose cloz is holding me together better than the others I have tried.

It’s calming. It mostly helps me sleep. I feel more zen and it just jives with me.

I do drool at night but I use a spray. I had constipation but it’s gotten better since I’ve begun working out more than I had been.

Best wishes to you. I hope it helps you.

3 Likes
14

There’s no depot for clozapine right? So if I refuse oral tablets they can’t inject me?

I want to stay on Paliperidone. I’ve been stable on Paliperidone

They’re tryna switch me for no reason. Just punishing me.

Also with tablets I could stop taking them in the community. Paliperidone depot ensures I take my meds.

The Doctors aren’t thinking straight.

2 Likes
15

They were quite forceful in the end about clozapine

If you end up on it you can’t just quit

I don’t think there is a depot

1 Like
16

I have 0 symptoms rn, idk why I’m being medicated. I’ll take clozapine. I have no choice. I was ready for discharge before so why can’t they send me home and let me take meds in the community?

17

Hey man, sorry to bother you again.

But what happens if you drink alcohol on clozapine? I like the odd cider.

And how is exercise? You swim right? I’m used to heavy weights lifting so when I go home I’m kinda scared to lift in case I get a heart attack.

1 Like
18

ask as much as you need to!

I stopped drinking about a year ago but only had an odd beer at that point anyway. The odd one didn’t seem to be a problem

But I hate alcohol which is why I used to lean to other less legal alternatives

Yes I swim 3 to 4 times a week. I have to wake up at least an hour before as to wake up requires half a dozen cigarettes and a few cups of coffee

But I’d take that any day for the ability to actually sleep properly which is something few other meds has done

my heart rate is fast and I have palpitations which are likely more effected by anxiety

That was the case even before

1 Like
19

Any exercise will do you good I think

Maybe you just need to go early when it’s less busy and maybe do some breathing exercises

Not really an expert on weights tho!

2 Likes
20

Thanks man. I guess they will do an ECG soon as the dose builds up. Today I took 25mg clozapine.

Then from tomorrow it will increase until I’m on 300mg daily.

I’m scared of the bowel stuff too. Hopefully I won’t need laxatives

If I get ileus I will ask to stop the medication cos I’m not willing to take laxatives daily like a 70 year old man. I’m only 29.

Also gonna ask in ward round if the meds go well if I can be discharged and take them in the community. Won’t quit cold turkey or anything but it does seem bizarre that they put me on pills when I’ve had issues with medication compliance in the past.

If I had stayed in Paliperidone 150mg I would have taken in every month.